STS 1

• Science


  A body of knowledge and a process
• Science


  • It is exciting
  • It is useful
  • It is progressing
  • It is a global human endeavour
• Science


  • Comes from the Latin word 'scientia' meaning 'knowledge'
  • Refers to a systematic and methodical activity of building and organizing knowledge about how the universe behaves through either observation or experimentation or both
• John Heilbron: 'Modern science is a discovery as well as an invention'
• Technology


  The application of scientific knowledge, laws, and principles to produce services, materials, tools, and machines aimed at solving real-world problems
• Technological tool


  Something that takes a human's sense or ability and augments it and makes it more powerful
• Two important periods of the 20th Century of history

  • The period between the end of World War 1 and the beginning of World War II (Interwar Period)
  • The period after World War II, commencing in 1945 until roughly 1991 (Cold War)
• Wolpert: 'In contrast to technology, reliable scientific knowledge is value-free and has no moral or ethical value'
• Carl Sagan: 'We live in a society absolutely dependent on science and technology and yet have cleverly arranged things so that almost no one understands science and technology. That's a clear prescription for disaster.'
• Technology


  Things that fulfill our needs and desires or perform certain functions
• Application of science


  Application of understanding of natural laws to the solution of practical problems
• What is a good science?
• Public Understanding of Science


  The goal of Science, Technology, and Society as an academic discipline is to enhance public understanding of science. Historically, scientific knowledge has been exclusive, creating a gap between scientists and the public. To thrive in modern society, public participation in science is crucial for addressing issues affecting daily lives.
• Good science education empowers citizens in science-driven economies, fosters democratic participation, and benefits the scientific community. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, countries with a strong public understanding of science, like South Korea, demonstrated effective responses through openness, transparency, and public engagement in decision-making. This highlights the significance of public comprehension for successful governance in science-related matters.
• Ethical dilemmas


  Difficult choices where no single approach fully adheres to ethical guidelines, societal norms, or personal morals. In science and technology, these dilemmas require decisions that balance potential benefits against risks to human health, safety, and security.
• Pandemics, including COVID-19, represent some of the most challenging ethical dilemmas in science and technology.
• Top 10 Ethical Dilemmas

  • Robot abuse
  • Doomscrolling
  • Your "Digital Twin"
  • The tech battle for the Arctic
  • Secret surveillance apps
  • Facebook
  • Selfie medicine
  • The sleep-tracking app that alters your dreams
  • CIVVL
  • The weaponization of data voids
• Science

  Comes from the Latin word, ‘scientia’ meaning ‘knowledge’. Refers to a systematic and methodical activity of building and organizing knowledge about how the universe behaves through either observation or experimentation or both• According to the famous American science historian John Heilbron (2003, p. vii),  “modern science is a discovery as well as an invention.”
• Technology is the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, especially in industry.The application of scientific knowledge, laws, and principles to produce services, materials, tools, and machines aimed at solving real-world problems
• Mark Zuckerberg "What defines a technological tool — one historical definition — is something that takes a human’s sense or ability and augments it and makes it more powerful"